The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses

Brille is a dynamic character and the protagonist of the story, whose internal growth of centering himself within his belief system propels the narrative forward. Although Brille is characterized as physically weak—he has a “hollowed-out chest and comic knobbly knees” (Paragraph 2)—he demonstrates an internal strength that has a strong foundation in his self-worth.

Brille’s character development is centered around his identity as a father. Through flashback, it becomes evident how Brille’s children, while not present in the main narrative, affect how he acts and thinks. Since he felt compelled to discipline his children, he regrets that he used politics to escape his personal life. However, Brille’s encounter with Hannetjie causes him to rethink his imagined message to his children about cooperation meaning their lives will go smoothly. He learns in prison that obeying authority will not always result in fairness and justice, and this insight allows for the resolution of Brille’s internal conflict: He stands up for his own humanity when he confronts Hannetjie’s racist actions.

Brille’s role as a father gives him authority over Hannetjie because he realizes that “the man really [is] a child” (Paragraph 55).